While the indoor track and field season is over for most of the men and women, 11 athletes will be competing this weekend for a final opportunity to reach the NCAA provisional qualifying time for the national indoor meet next week.

Athletes who have qualified under an automatic NCAA qualifying time will compete in the NCAA Indoor Championships March 8, but if the events are not filled by automatic qualifiers, the top provisional qualifiers will also be added to the event.

On the men’s team, senior sprinter Jarrod Macklin will travel to Iowa State Friday where he will face competition in the 400-meter dash, and if he does not reach a provisional qualifying time under 47 seconds, he will join his teammates at Notre Dame Saturday.

“He’s ready to go if he gets under 47, and even 46.9 could be close depending on how fast other guys run,” head men’s track coach Tom Akers said. “He is ready to take on a school record in the 400, and if we can do that, it will strengthen his chances of being in the top 16 and qualifying.”

Friday night at Notre Dame, distance runners Kyle O’Brien, Josh Vance and Jeff Jonaitis will compete in the 5,000-meter run.

“For Kyle, he’s been knocking down good 5K runs, and Vance is in the zone and running well. He’s really ready to hammer one down with J.J.,” Akers said.

On Saturday, Steve Cross and Kevin Christian will both race in the 800-meter run while Greg Belger will attempt to knock off time in the 60-meter hurdles.

“Greg has been really coming along in the hurdles, so we’re taking him there to run on a faster surface,” Akers said. “It’s tougher to take off bigger chunks of time in shorter races, but under 7.9 could hit the provisional mark, which would be outstanding for him as a sophomore.

“Steve and Kevin had tactical races this weekend, and now I want them to get a fresh race and go after a fast time,” Akers said. “They’re getting down to within the times on the Top 10 list for Eastern.”

On the women’s side, Tiffany Greenley and Jessica Sams will be competing in the weight throw at Notre Dame while Beth Martin will race in the 3,000-meter run and Mary Wood is currently entered, but tentative, to compete in the pole vault.

“It’s realistically possible if Tiffany can throw 60-feet, she has an outside chance at a provisional qualification,” women’s head coach John Craft said.

A 60-foot throw would be a personal record for Greenley by just a couple of feet, which is a possibility for the junior. Sams will be traveling with Greenley as both a companion as well as a competitor.

“Jessica is throwing well and Tiffany needs a comrade,” Craft said.

Wood, who sprained her ankle during the Ohio Valley Indoor Championships last weekend, has been entered to compete at Notre Dame in the pole vault, but is questionable whether she will participate.

“Mary wants to clear 11 feet indoor and reset her record, and I left the opportunity up to her to do that, so I just need to check with her,” Craft said.

Martin is the OVC indoor champion in the 3,000-meter run, and will attempt to better her time this weekend.

“Beth would like to run a faster 3K,” Craft said.

“She was tired and really had gone through a grueling thing at conference, so she wants to lower her (personal record) and get closer to the school record.”

This will be the final indoor competition for the athletes unless they earn a place at the national race before moving on to the outdoor season.